Get started in Google Drive with a screen reader

What is Google Drive?

Google Drive on the web lets you store, access, and edit your files anywhere — on the web, on your hard drive, or on the go. Here are some of the ways that you can use Google Drive on the web with a screen reader:

Download, upload, create, store, and edit files.

Share files and folders with family, friends, classmates, or colleagues.

Organize files into folders.

Store files so that you can get to them from any device.

Screen reader tips for Google Drive on the web

VoiceOver

If you're using Apple's VoiceOver, we recommend using Google Chrome as your browser. For the best experience, VoiceOver's Quick Nav feature should be off. To turn Quick Nav on or off, press the left arrow and right arrow at the same time.

If you're using Safari, please enable this advanced setting: "Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage."

NVDA

If you're using NVDA, we recommend using Mozilla Firefox as your browser. For the best experience, NVDA should be in focus mode. Press NVDA + Space to turn focus mode on or off.

In this video, you’ll learn how to get started with Google Drive, using NVDA with Firefox.

JAWS

If you're using JAWS, we recommend Mozilla Firefox as your browser with the latest version of JAWS. For the best experience, JAWS should be in forms mode, or the virtual cursor should be disabled. Press JAWS + z to turn the virtual cursor off or on.

ChromeVox

You don't need to change any settings to use Google Drive with ChromeVox on Chrome OS.

Find accessibility documentation

As you use Google Drive, you can find help documentation at any time by following these steps:

Press t to open the Google Drive Settings menu.

Navigate through the menu to Help.

In the search field, type "screen reader," and press Enter.

Find help with keyboard shortcuts

If you ever forget a key combination, you can open a list of keyboard shortcuts within Google Drive by pressing Control + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or Command + / (Mac). Along with a list of shortcuts, the dialog contains a link to view all Google Drive shortcuts in the Help Center. To close the dialog, press Escape.

More accessibility help articles

Navigation: Learn how to get around the Google Drive interface, including how to use the different menus and controls.

Manage files and folders: This article covers the main ways that you manage, search for, and organize items in Google Drive.

Sharing: Find out how to adjust the sharing settings for a file or folder.

Keyboard shortcuts: This page lists all of the keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Google Drive.